Road-wagon



(No Model.) 3 sheetssheet 2.

C. GILLET'T.

ROAD WAGON.

APatented Mar. 7, 1893.

ATTORNEYS.

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(No Model.) s sheets-sheet a.-

c. GILLETT. ROAD WAGON'.

No. 493,082. -'Patente.d Mar. '7, 1893.-

W/ TNE SSE S.:

Afro/mns.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE GILLETT, OF GLOVERSVILLE, NEW YORK.

ROAD-WAGON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 493,082, dated March?, 1893.

Application filed November 22, 1892. Serial No. 452,794. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern,.- I

Be it known that LAGLARENOE GILLETT, of Gloversville, in the county of Fulton and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Road-Wagomof which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to traction vehicles, propelled by ainotiveagent, such as steam, compressed air, electricity, dac.

The object ofthe invention is` to provide a new and improved road wagon, which is simple and durable in`construction, very effective in operation, and readily propelled at a high rate of speed and steered in -any desired direction.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, asv will be hereinafter described and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gures.

Figure l is a plan view of the improvement with parts in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with .parts in section and parts removed. Fig. 3 is a front end view of the improvement. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the same on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation of the gear shifting mechanism. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the reversing mechanism; and Fig. 7 is an enlarged transverse section of the transmitting gear 0n the main shaft.

The improved road wagon is provided with a suitably-constructed bed plate A, supporting a wagon body B, provided with suitable front and rear seats B', and B2, for carrying the driver and passengers, or freight, if desired. The rear end of the bed plate A supportsa rear axle made in two parts C and C', on the outer ends of which are fastened the hind wheels D and D respectively, but both are journaled in suitable bearings in a trans- Versely-extending frame C2, connected near each outer end with a spring plate CSattached at one end to astud C4 supported in a suitable bracket A2 attached to the bed plate A. The free end of each spring plate C2 is pivotallyconnected by a link C5 with the lower leaf of an elliptical spring C6 attached at its upper leaf at the middle thereof, to a bracket A3 supported from the bed plate A. This bracket A3 is slotted as plainly shown in Fig. 2, to ac commodate the link C5 to prevent a longitudlnal swinging motion of the latter. It will be seen that by this arrangement either of the hind wheels D or D', can readily pass over any obstruction in the road without causing the occupants to be jarred too much, in the Wagon body, and Without disturbing the relative connections with the driving mechanism.

The front wheels E are journaled loosely on the axles E ,each attached on averticallydisposed shaft E2 h eld in a transversely-extending frame E8 mounted to slide and to turn in vertically-disposed guideways A attached to the front end of the bed plate A. Aspring E4 presses on each axle E', the said spring being coiled on the shaft E2 and resting with its upper end on part of the frame E2; the lower end E5 of each shaft E2 is made square to make proper connection with the turning mechanism, as hereinafter more fully described. The frame E3 supports a bolt E6 at or near its middle and this bolt is rigidly7 attached to the lowerleaves of elliptical sprlngs E7 fastened with their upper leaves to the top bar of the guideway A-I, as will be readily understood by reference tothe drawings. An

arm E8 engages the square end E5 of each shaft E2, and the rtwo arms E8 are connected' with each other by a link E9, pivotally connected at F with a curved lever F fulcrumed at F2 on the frame E2. The free end ofthe lever F is pivotally-connected by a link F3 with a lever F4 fulcrumed at F5, on a bracket projecting from one side of the bed plate A, the upper end of the said lever being within convenient reach of the operator seated on the front seat B in the Wagon body B. The lever F4 is adapted to be locked in place on a segment F6, so as to hold the said leverin the proper position. Normally, the said lever F4 stands vertically and when vin this position, the front wheels E are in alignment with the hind wheels D, D and parallel with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

When the operator desires to steer the wagon to the left, he moves the lever F4 forward, as shown in Figs. l and 2, so that the lever F is caused to swing and by its connection with the link E2, andthe arms E8 with the shafts E2 causes the latter to turn so that ICC the axles E swing simultaneously -to throw the wheels E intolan angular' posit-ion, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. I. The wagon on its forward movement will now turn to the left. Vhen it is desired to steer the wagon to the right the lever` F5is thrown backward so that the wheels E swing in the opposite direction to cause the vehicle to turn to the right. It will further be seen that by the above mounting of the wheels, they can readily pass over any obstructions in the road, as the shafts are free to slidefupward in their bearings in the frame E2 and are returned to their normal positions by the springs`E2. It will also be seen that the frame E5 can swing on the bolt Eand as the latter is` yieldingly mounted on the elliptical springsE, no? jar whatever will be experienced by the pastengers in tliewvagon body at the time the vehi# cle passes over a rough road.

On the inner ends of the rear axles O and C are secured the bevel gearwheels G and G', respectively, inmesh with i pinions G2 journaled in a wheel G5 mounted -to rotate loosely on the inner ends `of the axles O-and C', as plainly shown in Fig.`1. This wheel G2 is provided ou its peripheral surface with two gear wheels'G4` andf G5 of fdifferentfdiameters, and in mesh at all times wi'thfgear- Wheels I-Iv and I-I, respectively,.mounted to turuloosely on the transversely-extending `main vshaft I, turningl-in suitable'bearings erected on the bed plate A.

Between the gearwheels Il and II', is arranged a clutch I'I2 mounted to slide on Yand to turn with the main driving shaft I,as"will be readily understood by reference to Fig. "7. The clutch H2 is adapted `to engageclutch teeth on the hubs of` the gear wheels II zand II,so that either of the latter can Vbe coupled to the shaft I. The clutch H2 is engaged by ashifting fork IIS held on a shaft IIfmounted to turn in suitable bearings on theunder side of the `wagon body B. The" forward -end of this shaft II4 is providedwith` an `upwardlyextending arm H5, forming a handleadapted td 'be' taken hold of by the operator seated on Athe front seat B of the `Wagonl body B. The operator, `by swinging the said arm* 'H5 to the right or left, turns the shaft Il1 so that the shiftingfork 115 moves the clutch H2 in mesh with` the-respective gear wheel II or II', so as to connect the wheel Giwithf the main fdriv- -ng shaft I.

The compensating gearing-arranged on 4the inner ends of the axles C and C as above described, permits slip of Veither of theidrive wheels D or D without affecting in any way whatever, the gearing connecting the shaft- I with the wheel G2. The shaftI formspart of an engine of the type of locomotive engines, the said drive shaft being for this purpose provided at its ends with crankdisks I connected in the usual manner with pistons in 'the cylinders J, the inlet valve of which,.I, is controlled by the operator on the front seat,so

as toadmit `steam or cut off the sameras desired. For. this purpose, the valve stem of the said valve J is provided with an arm J2 connected byalink J5 with an arm J5 projecting :from a shaft J5 extending vertically at the front end `of the wagon body B, so that the upper handle end of the said shaft J"r is under the control of the operator and can be readily turned by the saine, so as to open or close the valve J.

A reversing mechanism K of any approved construction is connected with the valve gear of the engines .I and this reversing gear is controlled by a lever K extending with its forward end in front of the seat B so as to be also under thecontrol of theoperator. As this reversing `gear is of `any approved construction, no further "description is Adeemed necessary.

The -steanr inlet pipe L' 'for the valveiJ"con nects withaboiler N of any approvedr construction iandrarrangedkon t-herear endof the belt plate'A. This bo'ileris preferablyof the Shipman style anduti-lizesoil las afuelfor generating steam. 'I`hewater"for the boiler N isconductedito the sameby a pipe O connectedk with the Water'tank Parran ged on the bed plate'A near the front `end of the `saine andun'der the wagon body B, as plainly shown in the drawings.

iThe oil is fed to the boiler N througha pipe Q leading from an oil tank Rarranged infront of thewater tank P. The exhaustfroln the cylinders .I of the engine discharges'intoa coilxofpipe S extending in the water tank P -toually discharge through the bed plateA tothe outside asplainly `shown in `Fig. 2.`

Now, it will be seen thatwhen the engines are working; the exhaustfsteanl `j passes into the c'oilof pipe S,is condensed therein, the water of condensationiflowing out through the lowerend of thef coil of pipe. The exhaust steam thus passi-ng through the'coilof pipe-S `heats the feed Water-containedin the ltankP so that the feed waterisdelivered to the boiler N by the` pipe O ina-highly heatedl sta-te. `It is understood that theseveral pipes-are provided with-suitable valves lfor regulating Athe flow of the water, oil -and steamfas1 the case may require.

It will be` seen that when the valve; is openedy by the operator` turning 'the' arm J 5, steam passes from the boiler'N to the engines so that the: latter rotate' 'the driving shaftl I, which by therespective gear wheel I-I or I'I, actuates the-compensatinggearingso that the rear axles C and Cl are rotated -to--cause the wheels D and D to travel on theground and thus propel the wagon forward. When it is "desired 'torunf the wagon backward, the operator-actuates the lever -Krofthe engine reversing mechanism, so `that. theengines turn the shaft I in an inverse direction, whereby the-axles C and' Care'turned backward-and revolve the wheels D and D in the'same direction so that the wagon runs backward.

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The steering' is' accomplished as abovedescribed by the operator actuating the lever F4, so as to change the position of the axles E carrying the front steering wheels.

Having thus fully described-my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A road wagon, comprising a bed plate, independent revoluble rear axles, rear drive wheels secured on the said rear axles, front steering wheels, front axles on which revolve the said front wheels, and a yieldingly mounted frame carrying the said front axles, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a road wagon, the combination with the vertical guide ways at the forward end of the wagon, of a transverse spring-supported frame mounted in said guide ways, and the short horizontally turning axles journaled in the ends of the said frame, wheels mounted on said axles, and means for simultaneously turning said axles, substantially as set forth..

3. In a road wagon, the combination with the vertical guide ways at the front end of the wagon and the vertically yielding spring supported transverse frame working in said guides, of the vertical shafts mounted in said frame and carrying short axles on which tlhe steering wheel turns, the springs encircling said shafts above said axle and on which springs the ends of the transverse frame rest, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with the vertical guide ways at the front of the wagon, elliptical springs E7 supported at their upper sections intermediate of the said guideways, and a vertically movable transverse frame working in said guide Ways and connected to the lower members of said springs by a transverse bolt E6, of the short horizontally swinging axles mounted in the outer ends of the said frame and carrying the steering wheels, substantially as set forth. i

5. In a road Wagon, the combination with a spring, and a bolt secured thereon, of a'frame hung on the said bolt,shafts mounted to turnin the said frame, axles projecting from the said shafts and carrying the steering wheels, springs pressing on the said shafts, and a lever and link mechanism under the control of the operator and adapted to turn the said shafts, substantially as shown and described.

6. In aroadwagon,thecombination with rear axles carrying the rear drive Wheels, of a compensating gearing connected with the said axles, and differential gear wheels adapted to be thrown in gear with the said compensating gearing to rotate the said axle at a high or low rate of speed, substantially as shov'vn and dsl'beda l y 7. The combination with the springs C3 Secured at C4 to the sides of the Wagon, of the transverse frame C1 resting on the free ends of said springs and carrying the bearings for rear or drive wheel axles, the links C5 depending from the said springs, the elliptical springs C secured by their upper leaves to the sides of the wagon and having their lower leaves secured to the lower ends of said links, substantially as set forth.

8. In a road wagon, the combination with a bed plate, of springs supported thereon, links connected with the said springs, spring plates supported from the said bed plate and connected at their freeends with the said links, and aframe attached to the said spring plates f and carrying the bearings for the rear axles, substantially as shown and described.

9. A road wagon comprisingabed plate,rear axles carrying the rear drive wheels and journaled on the said bed plate, a compensating gearing connected with the said rear axles, a differential gearing for driving the said compensating gearing at a high or low rate of speed, and engines carryingon their main driving Lshaft the said differential gear wheels, substantially as shown and described.

10. A road wagon comprising a bed plate, rear axles carrying the rear drive Wheels and j ournaled on the said bed plate, a compensating gearing connected withthe said rear axles, a differential` gearing for driving the said compensating gearing at a high or low rate of speed, engines carrying on their main driving shaft the said differential gear wheels, and a reversing mechanism for the said engines to cause the main driving shaft to run forward or backward, substantially as shown and described.

ll. A road wagon, comprising a bed plate supporting a wagon body, front steering wheels, rear driving wheels, a gearing connected with the axles of the said rear driving wheels, engines for actuating the said gearing, a boiler carried on the bed plate and generating steam for the said engines, a water tank for supplyingthe said boiler -with water, and containing a coil of pipe connected with the exhaust of the said engines, and an oil tank connected with the said boiler to furnish the necessary fuel for the same, substantially as shown and described.

. CLARENQE GILLETT.

Witnesses:

' EZRAl A. SUTLIFF,

NELSON H. ANIBAL.

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